Absorber and rebreathing mechanism for anesthetizing machines



HINES Nov. 8, 1938 J. A. HEIDBRINK ABSORBER AND REBREATHING MECHANISMFOR' ANESTHETIZING MAC Inventor? Heidbrl'rlk.

Nov. 8, 1938,

ABSORBER` AND REBREAT J. A. HEIDBRINK HING MECHANISM FOR ANESTHETIZINGMACHINES Nov. 8, 1938. .1. A. HIDBRINK HINES ABSORBER AND REBREA'I'HINGMECHANISM FOR ANESTHETIZING MAC Filed Aug. 23, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3Heidbr'irik.

Filed Aug. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 l GAS DELNERING l' MCHINF; f FR3-14l I'T I I l Invenof: Taj .He(dbm`nk Nov. 8, 1938.

J. `A. HEIDBRINK ABSORBER AND REBREATHING MECHANISM VFOR ANESTHET'IZINGMACHINES Filed Alig. 25, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 8, 1938UNITED STATES ABSORBER AND milsEA'rHlNGl MECHA- NISM FOR ANESTHETIZINGMACHINES Jay A. Heidbrnk, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The OhioChemical and Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio VApplication August23, 1935, Serial No. 37,497

11 Claims.

My invention relates to absorber and rebreathing mechanism foranesthetizing machines, and has for its object to provide novel andeffective means for controlling the gas to pass it through the absorbermechanism and for controlling the inhalations so as conveniently torebreath gas from the rebreathing bag which on exhalation has gonethrough the absorber material.

In the technique of administering gases for anesthesia or analgesiaimproved results in economy and in the character of anesthesia obtainedYfollow the use of material for taking carbon dioxide from the patientsexhalation whereby rebreathing may be effected in something of a closedcycle, there being added only sufficient gas or gas mixture to replacewhat is absorbed in the patients lungs and tissues. From carefulexperimentation I have determined that better results are attained bypassing the gas directly from the rebreathing bag to the `patient oninhalation, but causing the gas to pass through the absorber material onexhalation only. It is, therefore, one object of my invention to providemeans conveniently located and effective for causing the exhaled gasesto pass through absorber material to the rebreathing bag and theinhalation to come directly from the rebreathing bag without beingexposed to absorber material.

Another object of my invention is to provide double receptacles forabsorber material with means for employing either receptacle at will sothat when the absorber material in one receptacle may become exhaustedanother is available for use.

Another object of my invention is to provide valve means whereby exhaledgas may be caused to pass through absorber material entirely through oneor the other of the receptacles containing it, or may be made to passinvarying proportions as desired through the absorber material in bothreceptacles.

A further object of my invention is to pass exhaled gases eitherdirectly to the rebreathing bag or directly through absorber material ineither container, and valso to pass exhaled gases at the same timedirectly to the rebreathing bag in part and in part through the absorbermaterial in one or the other of the containers in relative proportionsto be fixed by the operator.

It is a fact, as I have learned by experience, that the soda lime usedfor removing carbon dioxide from the exhalations of the patient, will,after a certain amount of use become semisaturated, or at least on thesurfaces thereof,

100thk (Cl. 12S- 203) so that it will lose its effectiveness. But ifthis so charged soda lime be allowed to rest for a period of timewithout use the adsorbed carbon dioxide will penetrate deeper into thecrystals and the surfaces lexposed to exhalations Will becomeself-regeneratedv sor that further use of the same material may be hadWithout external regeneration. It is', therefore, an object of myinvention to provide means such that while absorber material in yonecontainer is being used in connection with the gas administeringmachine, the absorber material in another container maybe allowed torest so as to become regenerated or reactivated.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear inconnection with the detailed description thereof and their advantageousfeatures are particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, illustrating an application of my invention in oneform,

Fig. 1 is a part diagrammatic plan view of a construction embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is asectional vertical view of one form of absorberwithk associated mechanism taken on line v2--2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is atransverse view of the same form of absorber mechanism taken on line3-'-3 of Fig. 2. Fig 4 is a vertical section taken -on line IIL-4 ofFig. 1. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 6 withsome parts brokenl away. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken online 6-6 of Fig. '7 but on the same scale as Figl 5. Fig. '7 is anenlarged vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Figs. 1 and 6 and showingonly the top part of the mechanism. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectionalview taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8with the parts in modified position.VV Fig. 10 is a view partly insection of some of the valve mechanism. Fig. 11 is a horizontal sec tiontaken on line lI--ll of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal centralsection through part of the valve mechanism. Fig. 13 is a transversesection on line |3-I3 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a plan view of a modifiedform of the construction showing two containers for absorber material.Fig. 15 is a sectional elevation view on line l5l5 of Fig. 1-4. Fig. 16is a sectional elevational View of some of the partsshown in Fig. 15 onthe line lli-I6 of Fig. 14, with valve members in a different position.Fig. 17 is a sectional elevation view on line Il-ll of Fig. 14, withparts of the valve mechanism broken away. Fig. 18 is a sectional planview on line I8--I8 of Fig. 15. Fig. 19 is a sectional plan view takenon line lil- I9 of Fig. 15. Fig. 2O is an enlarged sectional View ofshut-oil' breathing bag.

As illustrated, a gas-delivering apparatus I 0, of usual construction isprovided with a passageway extension support II to which is secured apassageway support I2 of the absorber and breathing control mechanismhereinafter described. From the interior of passageway I2 a conduit I3leads through a port I4 to inlet valve mechanism housed in a casing I5from which extends the inlet tube I6 of the breathing line. As shown inFigs. 4 and 7, the port I4 is above valve disc I1, as also is the outletI8 leading to the inlet side tubing I6, so that the flow of gasdetermined by the gas-delivering machine will go constantly to theinhale side of the breathing line.

A respirator I9 is located in the breathing line and is provided withcontrollable valve mechanism of known construction indicated at 20. Theoutlet or exhale side of the breathing line comprises tubing 2I which isunited by a connector 22 with a nipple 23 which provides an inlet 24 toa Valve chamber 25 through which exhaled gases must pass. Within thevalve chamber 25 is a valve disc 26 above which is a port or passageway21 leading into main center channel 28 in casing 29, as clearly shown inFig. 5. A plunger 39 controlled by crank 3I on .stem 32 and handle 33 isadapted to engage valve disc 26 to hold it under pressure of spring 34for restraining exhalation under pressures lower than that determined byspring 34, as best shown in Fig. '7.

Secured to the lower end of casing 29 (in the form of the invention ofFigs. 4 to 13 inclusive) is a supporting disc 35 to which is removablysecured by means of thumb screw hasps 36 an absorber container 31. Acentral partition 38 formed in conjunction with a central valve chamberconduit 39 and a second conduit 40 divides the interior of absorbercontainer into two similar compartments 4I and 42, as clearly indicatedin Figs. 2, 8, .and 9. The central conduit 39 formed in the doubleabsorber container 31 is adapted to slip over a sleeve extension 43,Figs. 4, 8 and 9, formed as a continuation of the central valve conduit29 and valve passageway 28. Also conduit 40, Fig. 7, is provided with alip 44 and conduit 39, Fig. 4, has an annular extension and lip 44',both of which, in common with the upper edge 45 of the walls ofcontainer 31, engage a packing sheet 46 on the lower side of disc 35 tomake sealing contact therewith. Also the edge of partition 38 similarlyengages and seals fast the packing sheet 46. The conduit 4U in positionregisters around an opening 41 leading into the chamber in valve casingI5 below valve disc I1, wherebry gas passing from the absorber to therebreathing bag as hereinafter described may be drawn past valve I1 intothe inhale tube I6 of the breathing line. When, therefore, absorbercontainer 31 is clamped in position on the disc 35, it will be held inair-tight relation thereto with the conduit 40 registering with theopening 41 and the central conduit 39 surrounding the extension 43, asclearly shown in Fig. 4.

At its upper portion, Figs. 8 and 9, the conduit tube 39 is pro-videdwith ports 48 and 49, which in assembled position register withcorresponding ports 59 and 5I of the extension tube 43. The ports 48, 50thus open into chamber 4l and the ports 49, 5I open into chamber 42. Adrum valve 52 has its circular bottom 53 provided with a segment port54, and has its cylindrical Wall mechanism for the reprovided with acorrespondingly-positioned laterally disposed port 55, see Figs. 12 and13. The bottom 53 of valve 52 rests on a partition 56 forming a bottomclosure of the extension 43 except for a segment port 51 correspondingto segment port 54 of drum valve 52, but, as indicated in dotted linesat 53 of Fig. 9, located opposite the dividing strip 59 between ports 59and 5I. It follows, therefore, that when the drum valve 52 is inposition so that segment port 54 in bottom wall 53 thereof registerswith the segment port 51 in bottom wall 52-the position of the partsshown in Fig. 8-the latera1 ports 48, 50, and 49, 5I will be closed.When, however, the drum valve is rotated to a position where its lateralport 55 registers with either of the sets of ports 48, 5D or 49, 5I, asin Fig. 9, opening between bottom segment ports 54 and 51 will beclosed. There are, therefore, three principal operating positions of thedrum valve 52. That of Fig. 8, in which exhaled gas is excluded from theabsorber material and goes directly through the central conduit 39, thatof Fig. 9 in which the exhaled gas must pass through the absorbermaterial in chamber-4I, and a third position wherein the valve isshifted to register port 55 with ports 49, 5I and the exhaled gas willbe delivered to the chamber 42 in the absorber container 31. Asemi-conical strip 66 of reticulate material holds the absorber materialaway from the ports to prevent its entrance into the drum valve 52 orconduit 39, and also to facilitate ready distribution of exhaled gasesto move through the whole body of the absorber material in either of therespective chambers 4I and 42.

There are also a large number of intermediate operating positions of thedrum valve 52 of three sorts. In one of these, the valve is positionedso that exhaled gas may go in part directly and in part through the rstabsorber container. In a second set of positions of the valve, gas maygo in part directly through the conduit 39 and in part through thesecond container of absorber material. In the third set of positions,the exhaled gas may at the same time pass in part through one and inpart through the other of the absorber material in the two absorbercontainers. In each of these three sets of positions, there may be manyvariations to vary the relative portions of exhaled gas passing throughthe two channels thus opened by the valve 52.

A conduit 39 at 6I extends beyond the preferably-bulged bottom 62 of theabsorber container 31 which is carried over the bottom edge ,i

of conduit 39 in a reduced connector member 63 adapted to have appliedthereto and supported either directly or through a shut-off valve ashereinafter described, a rebreathing bag 64 of usual construction. Atthe bottom the absorber material is held spaced from the bottom wall 62by a reticulate partition 65, there being thus formed a pair of lowerchambers 66 and 66', Fig. 3, surrounding the conduit 39 which opens intosaid chambers through ports 51 and 61', as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and3. The conduit 40 also opens at its lower end into both chambers 66 and66 so that exhaled gas, after passing through absorber material ineither of chambers 4I .and 42 or both or neither thereof, may go to therebreathing bag and thence back through port 61 or 61 and conduit 49into valve chamber I5 (Fig. 7) and thence past valve I1 to the inhaletube I5 of the breathing line. A stand. 68 is applied to the lower endof the absorber container to support the s ame when removed from thedisk 35 for lling.

- A shut-off valve for the rebreathing bag is shown in detail in Figs. 4and 20. It comprises a cylindrical valve chamber 69 into which isthreaded a top valve seat member 10 embodying a slip tube 1| adapted totake over the reduced extension 63 ofcondut 39, and also provided withan annular valve seat 12 and a transverse bar 13 forming a guide for avalve clisc plunger 14.

A valve disc 15 is supported thereon through a' 16 which is adapted tobe actuated by a link 11 on a crank 18, which in turn Vismounted on apin shaft 19 actuated by a handle 80. The rebreathing bag is held inopen relation to the valve chamber 69 by means of an extension adapter8|. When, therefore, the handle and crank are in the dropped position ofFig. 4, there is full communication of the interior of conduit 39 andchamber 66 and 66' to and with the rebreathing bag. When the handle andcrank are shifted to the up-position of Fig. 20, the rebreathing bag iscut off or put out of operative connection with these passages.

It is to be noted, however, that valve 15 may be moved against the forceof spring 16, which is compression spring adjusted to correspond withcontrol of valve 26 i by spring 34, as a safety device to prevent toogreat pressure in the lungs of the patient, since both valves 26 and 15at a certain maximum pressure will yield, permitting the gas to pass tothe rebreathing bag. And since the rebreathing bag is composed of lightelastic material, it will expand and burst before the pressure of gas inthe system reaches a dangerously high degree.

As best shown in Fig. 4, the drum valve 52 is pinned to a stem 82 whichextends through its bottom and through an aperture in the partition Wall56 to a point some distance below the same, so that the drum valvebottom 53 may be held iirmly against the partition member 56 by meansofa compression spring 83 taking against a long washer 84 and properlytensioned by means of a nut 85 threaded on the end of stem 82; The stem92 passes through a central opening in a closure cap 86 threaded intothe top of casing 29. A packing nut 81 and suitable packing 88 rendersthe connection gas-tight. A handle 89 is fast on stem 82. Opposite thehandle 89 is an extension 99 which carries a pair of pointers 9|, 92extending in a substantially vertical plane, as clearly shown in Figs.1, 5 and 7. These pointers cooperate with a scale member 93 directlyoverlying the upper end of casing 29. The scale 93 provides threecircumferential segments 94, 95 and 96 respectively, each comprising anannular extent on the scale 93 equal to the spread of the ends of thepointers 9| and 92. Scale segment 94 carries the notation Shut, and whenthe pointers are at its outer limits, there is an indication that thedrum valve 52 is in the position of Fig. 8 with absorber material shutoi from the interior of conduit 39. The scale segment 95 carries thenotation No. 1 chamber, and when the pointers are at its limits itindicates that ports 49, 5| and 55 are open to admit exhaled gas tocompartment 42 of absorber container 31, and that the bottom ports areclosed. Scale segment 96 carries the notation No. 2 chamber, and whenthe pointers 9| and 92 are at its limits it indicates that ports 48, 50and 55 are in register to deliver exhaled gases to chamber 4|,

as shown in Fig. 9.

In practice, where absorption is employed the valve will generally beset, by means of pointers 9| and 92 so that the exhaled gases will passthrough one of the chambers, as chamber No. 1, until the absorbermaterial therein, such as soda lime, begins to lose efliciency becauseof nearing saturation. The valve will then be shifted to the position ofFig. 9 to passV exhalations through chamber No. 2, and the absorbermaterial in chamber No. l will be permitted to rest. While so resting ithas been discovered it will gradually reactivate itself so as to beeffective for further absorption. Also, when absorption material in onechamber, as in chamber No-1, is becoming somewhat decient in absorptivepower and the material in the other chamber, as chamber No. 2, is fresh,it frequently is desirable and eiects marked economics in the use ofabsorber material to position the' valve so the pointers are both abovethe indicated chambers No. 1 and No. 2, in which position exhaled gasescan pass through the absorber material in both chambers and the weakenedmaterial in one chamber can continue to be used to a point much nearersaturation by reason of the fact that dividing the flow reduces the rateof flow through both chambers and the strong material in Yone of thechambers aids in complete absorption.

In the form of invention shown in Figs. 14 to 19 inclusive, theabove-defined parts all operate in the same way except that instead ofhaving one absorber container divided into two compartments, therek aretwo independent and separate absorber containers either of which may beemptied and refilled independently of the other. These containersconsist of cylinders and |0| each'supported upon a base member |02 whichis secured to or cast with tubular member |03 formed as a downwardextension of casing member 29, as best shown in Fig. 18. There is alsoformed in conjunction with tubular conduit -|03 a double ring casting|04, Fig. 19, and tubular container members |00 and I0| extend throughthe separated rings thereon, their bottoms resting on a circular ledgeformed in the bottom members |02, Figs. 15 and 19, and the top of eachbeing closed .by a cap |06 held in position by a springvhasp |01snapping into a recess |08 in a cam bar |09 on the top of covers |06.

Tubular member |03 is provided, with a partition ||0 formed with asegment port Figs. 16, 1'1, and in dotted lines in Fig. 19. Above thepartition ||0 the tubular member |03, where it merges with casing 29,opens into a pair of passageways ||2, l I3, Fig. 19, which open throughports ||4, ||5 to the interior of cylinders |00 and |0|. Drum Valve 52,as in the construction of Figs. l to 13 inclusive, rests upon partition||0, its segment port 54 through bottom wall 53 being adapted toregister with segment port in partation I0 to pass exhaled gasesdirectly through tubular member |93 and shut-oil valve 69 to rebreathingbag 64, when that is desired. The lateral port 55 in drum valve 52 isadapted to register either with passageway ||2, or, as in Fig. 19, withpassageway ||3 to pass exhaled gases into container cylinder |00 or |0I,and, as can be seen from an inspection of Fig. 19, it is adapted to takean intermediate position to pass gas into both said containers. Themeans for operating drum valve 52 and indicating its positions forcontrol of the exhaled gases is the same in the modication of Fig. 14 toshown in Figs. l to 13,.

As clearly indicated in Figs. l5 and 19, the abby buckets ||6 in thewhich rest 75 20 as in the construction sorber material is carried formof cylinders, the lower edges of and easily readable nature.

upon the ledge |05, said buckets having a reticulate vbottom H'I and acrossbar handle ||8 by means of which they may conveniently be liftedfrom container cylinders |00 or ||l|. From the above description andthat of the bottom valve hereinafter given, it will be clear that whilethe machine is in use passing the exhaled gases through absorbermaterial in bucket I IB in one of the container cylinders, as ll, theother container cylinder may be opened up and the bucket i l5 thereincontaining absorber material be withdrawn and fresh absorber material besubstituted for that which may have been subjected to a sufncient amountof use.

The member |02 provides a pair of chambers H9, H9', Figs. 15 and 18, towhich will go the exhaled gases passing through cylinder containers liior |92 respectively. Pinned to the bottom of valve stem 82 by means ofbar |20, Fig. l5, is an open-ended cylinder valve |2| having a port 22adapted to register with passageways |23 and |524 respectively, Fig. 18,leading from chambers i9 and H9', respectively, whereby exhaled gas`passing through either container |0| or |02 may go to the rebreathingbag 64 and thence, or directly, to the inhale side of the breathingline. Thus, as in the construction of Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive, providingcommunication from one container of absorber material and cutting offcommunication from the other.

The exhaled gas whether or not it has gone through one of the absorbercontainers, or whether or not it has gone to the rebreathing bag, passesthrough the interior of tubular conduit member |03 and through apassageway |25 leading therefrom into valve chamber in valve casing i5below the ilicker valve I1, as clearly shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, andthence to the inhale sidei6 of the breathing line.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent from the foregoingdescription. With this apparatus, no matter how long it may be used inproducing anesthesia or analgesia, there always is available suitableactive absorber material, specically soda lime, to take care of therequisite absorption of carbon dioxide. Very great economy will resultfrom the use of the apparatus, since absorber material may not only beemployed until its capacity is temporarily exhausted, but the restperiods which are permitted by the use of more than one absorbercontainer will give it opportunity to reactivate itself and be availablefor use. The indicator mechanism associated with the valve is ofparticularly positive By means of that indicator, the operator mayinstantly set the valve inv any of its three primary positions or in anydesired one of the great number of positions available of the threesecondary sets of positions. The machine is absolutely safe anddependable, and is sc constructed as to make very easy relling theabsorber containers.

I claim:

l. In an anesthetizing apparatus, embodying a closed breathing line, amultiplicity of separate containers for absorber material each having aport adapted to open into the breathing line, a valve having a portadapted to register separately with each of said first-named ports orjointly with two of them, a pair of pointers movable with said valve,and an indicator cooperating with the pointers to show when thefirst-named ports are all closed by the valve, when any of them is fullyopened, and when two of them are opened.

2. In an anesthetizing apparatus, embodying a closed breathing line anda conduit connected with the exhale side thereof, a rebreathing bag intowhich said conduit opens, a multiplicity of separate containers ofabsorber material adjacent the conduit, and controllable means forselectively causing exhalation gas to pass through the conduit directlyto the rebreathing bag or to pass through the absorber material ineither or two of said containers as desired.

3. In an anesthetizing apparatus, embodying a breathing line and aconduit connected with the exhale side thereof, a rebreathing bag intowhich said conduit opens, a pair of separate containers of absorbermaterial each having a port adapted to lead into the conduit, apartition in the conduit having a port, a drum valve having a bottomwall and bottom port adapted to register with the port in the partitionand having a side-wall port adapted to register with the ports to theabsorber containers, and controllable means for selectively setting thedrum valve.

4. In an anesthetizing apparatus, embodying a breathing line and aconduit connected with the exhale side thereof, a rebreathing bag intowhich said conduit opens, a pair of separate containers of absorbermaterial each having a port adapted to lead into the conduit, apartition in the conduit having a port, a drum valve having a bottomwall and bottom port adapted to register with the port in the partitionand having a side-wall port adapted to register with the ports to theabsorber containers, and a handle and spaced pointers movable with saiddrum valve and cooperating with indicating means for selectively settingthe drum valve.

5. An anesthetizing apparatus, embodying a breathing line, a conduittherein connected with the exhale side and the inhale side thereofrespectively, a partition in said conduit between said inhale line, apair of separate containers for absorber material each having a portadapted to open into the conduit above the partition, and having meansabove said partition for selectively determining ow of exhalation gas topass through the absorber material in one or the other of saidcontainers or to pass directly to the inhale side of the rebreathingline.

6. In an anesthetizing apparatus, embodying a closed breathing line anda conduit therein connected with the exhale and the inhale sidesrespectively thereof, a container for absorber material surrounding saidconduit, a partition including said conduit dividing the container intoseparated compartments each containing absorber material, and ports andvalve mechanism in said conduit operative alternatively to open andclose either of said compartments to the exhale side of the breathingline.

7. In an anesthetizing apparatus, embodying a closed breathing line anda conduit therein connected at one end with the exhale side of therebreathing line, a second conduit adjacent the first-named conduitconnected with the inhale side of the rebreathing line, a container forabsorber material surrounding said conduits, a partition including bothsaid conduits dividing the container into separated compartments eachcontaining absorber material, and ports and valve mechanism in saidconduit operative alternately to open and close either of saidcompartments to the exhale side of the breathing line.

8. An anesthetizing apparatus embodying a closed breathing line, acylindrical conduit in said line communicating with the inhale and .theeX- and exhale sides of the rebreathing hale sides thereof and having aported transverse partition thereacross, a pair of containers of sodalime located adjacent said conduit and having ports adapted to be openedthereinto, and a cup valve resting upon the partition and having a portin its side for opening the conduit to one or the other of the soda limecontainers and having a port in its bottom adapted alternately to opencommunication directly through the conduit when the port to both sodalime containers is closed.

9. An anesthetizing apparatus embodying a closed breathing line, acylindrical conduit in said line communicating with the inhale and theexhale sides thereof and having a ported transverse partitionthereacross, a pair of containers of soda lime located adjacent saidconduit and having ports adapted to be opened thereinto, a cup valveresting upon the partition and having a port in its side for opening theconduit to one or the other of the soda lime containers and having aport in its bottom adapted alternately to open communication directlythrough the conduit when the port to both soda lime containers isclosed, a scaled closure cap on the end. of said conduit, and a handlefor operating said cup valve provided with two indicator fingerscooperating with said scale to indicate the precise degree of openingand closing of each of the ports of said cup valve.

10. An anesthetizing apparatus embodying a closed breathing line, acylindrical conduit in said line communicating with the inhale andexhale sides thereof, and having a ported transverse partitionthereacross, a pair of containers of soda lime located adjacent saidconduit and having ports adapted to be opened thereinto, a valve in saidconduit adapted to open communication directly therethrough, into eitherof said containers or into both of them, a handle for operating saidvalve embodying a pair of diverging pointers, and a scale cooperatingwith said pointers to indicate exactly the condition of opening intosaid containers or directly through the conduit.

11. An anesthetizing apparatus embodying a closed breathing line, acylindrical conduit in said line communicating with the inhale andexhale sides thereof, and having a ported transverse partitionthereacross, a pair of containers of soda lime located adjacent saidconduit and having ports adapted to be opened thereinto, a valve in saidconduit adapted to open communication directly therethrough, into eitherof said containers or into both of them, a handle for operating saidvalve embodying a pair of diverging pointers, and an indicating platecooperating with the ends of said pointers and having thereon three setsof indications each corresponding to the spread of said pointers wherebythe valve may be instantly and simply set to open into either of saidcontainers, to open directly through the conduit, to open in varyingdegrees and through the conduit.

JAY A. HEIDBRINK.

